#Santa Clara latest Local News

[santaclaralocalnews]

If you’ve been to any live performance recently, you’ve probably noticed that ticket prices have escalated. At the same time, performing groups started experimenting with a radical idea: making their performances accessible to everybody regardless of their ability to pay. Read more at svvoice.com.

[keanuquotes]

BY MAT WEIR

In a “most excellent” display of rock, Dogstar–featuring Hollywood outsider favorite, Keanu Reeves on bass–played to a sold out Catalyst main room last night. The air was more electrified than the batteries of the Matrix as everyone anxiously waited to get a glimpse of the star. Despite the show starting at 8pm, Catalyst staff had been at the club since 10am setting up the stage and keeping fans away from the tour buses all day.

music in the park san jose

Yet, despite the early call time, stage managers, runners and security were in just as good of spirits as the fans later in the evening. That’s just the magic of Keanu.

While the official time the doors opened was 7pm, VIP lanyard ticket holders were allowed in twenty minutes before. A group of fifty or so individuals rushed to the front of the stage to stake their place. Every once in a while a friend from any given group would go to the bar and place an order of drinks to bring back while the crowd broke into cheers whenever the door to the green room opened.

By the time the opening band, Sons of Silver, hit the stage the Catalyst bars were in full gear cranking out drinks to thirsty crowds. The Los Angeles five piece is touring off their latest single, “Running Out of Words” ahead of the release of their debut full-length, Runaway Emotions. Featuring former members of Pearl Jam, Candlebox and Skillet, Sons of Silver brings a certified classic rock sound with a twist from keyboardist Brina Kabler. Their first time in Santa Cruz and at The Catalyst, Sons of Silver singer Peter Argyropoulos acknowledged the venue’s historic past.

“It’s good to be in a proper rock ‘n roll club,” he told the audience, noting the current Summer Vacation Tour with Dogstar has taken the bands to multiple casino resort shows.

After a 20 minute or so break between bands, the crowd erupted as the three piece Dogstar took the stage. They opened the set “Blonde,” an Echo & the Bunnymen-esque song that also opens Dogstar’s new album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and the Palm Trees, which came out in October 2023. Throughout the set they played a number of new tracks like the break-up ballads, “How The Story Ends” and “Glimmer” along with energetic anthem, “Breach.”

After a quick five minute break, Dogstar returned for a four song encore that included lively cover versions of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” maybe or maybe not in honor of the day being the 20th anniversary of the death of Johnny Ramone.

As they closed out the set singer Bret Domrose–a Santa Clara native who has also acted in movies like The Replacements with bassist Reeves and previously played bass in San Francisco new wave punk act, The Nuns–told The Catalyst he was once in a local band as “a kid” that tried to play the venue but couldn’t get a gig.

“So thanks for finally letting me in,” he joked before the band walked off stage.

Living up to his reputation as a “regular person” and grateful star, Reeves re-emerged once most of the venue cleared out to greet fans and hangout with old friends. Before heading back onto the bus he signed autographs and took a couple of photos with some lucky fans while rocking a comfy pair of UGG boots. Like his character in The Devil’s Advocate said, it’s “free will after all.”

[moverssantaclara]

How to Find a Quality Mover in Santa Clara County



Moving can be a terribly stressful experience. It's among the most expensive and time-consuming activities you can undertake It's crucial to find the perfect mover to ensure that the process is as smooth as you can. If you're searching for moving companies who are located in Santa Clara County, here are some guidelines for finding the most suitable solution for your needs.

Do Your Research

Before you hire a moving company It is essential to conduct your homework. Start by researching online for reviews written by past clients. This will provide you with an idea of the kind of services they provide and whether or not other customers were pleased with their experiences. Also, take a look at the length of their experience as well as any awards or certifications they have won. This will provide you with some idea about how skilled they are as well as how current they are with the latest industry standards.

Get Multiple Estimates

Once you've narrowed your list of possible Movers Santa Clara, ask for estimates from each. Be sure to ask specific questions regarding their services to ensure you are aware of what's included in the estimate, as well as any additional fees that could be charged during the move (such as insurance charges). It's also crucial to have everything written down to avoid surprises later when it's time to pay for the bill.

Ask Questions

When you meet with prospective movers, don't be scared to ask questions regarding their policies and services. This can include questions regarding the cancellation policies, their payment procedures as well as the possibility of storage, packaging supplies as well as anything else that is related to the actual move. By obtaining all of the information in advance it will ensure that there aren't any unpleasant surprises later on or after the moving. It is also advisable to ask about any additional services like cleaning or unpacking after the items are in your new office or home space.

Conclusion

Finding a reputable moving company located in Santa Clara County doesn't have to be a hassle when you are willing to do your homework prior to. Be sure to obtain multiple estimates from several companies prior to making a final decision. Be sure to ask lots of questions! By keeping these guidelines in your head you'll be able quickly find a professional local movers who can make the transition to your new office or home area smooth and easy!

[brooklynmuseum]

Stronger Together

Hi Brooklyn. We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. The times are difficult and it is valid if you may not feel your best. It is okay to feel your feelings, and take your time to heal during these moments. As you navigate these difficult times, remember that you are a part of the community that is here to support you. The Brooklyn, and New York community at large, is one of the most vibrant and resilient there is!

If you have questions, or have more you wish to see or to spotlight, reach out. We want to hear from you. Please email stay.connected@brooklynmuseum.org. 

Also, text 'COVID' to 692-692 to get important COVID-19 related updates sent straight to your phone. You can text 'COVIDESP' to get updates in Spanish.

Local Business Highlights of the Week: 

Oxalis is temporarily closed for service, but will offer pick up and delivery on Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 4pm-8pm of fresh and prepared foods, cocktails and wine. Place your order, or pre order at www.boxalis.com , by phone at (347) 627-8298 or by email at hello@boxalis.com

No-frills Korean flavors are still being served at the famed Kimchi Taco. Take out and no-contact delivery available from 12-10pm daily. 

Census

A reminder to complete the 2020 Census today at my2020census.gov. 

In this webinar, you will learn about the guiding principles the Census Bureau is implementing for the use of administrative records and research findings for the housing and demographic questions on the survey.

On May 12th, United Way is launching United We Count, United We Vote – a civic engagement campaign to mobilize people in civic participation and collective action during this time of uncertainty and social distancing. Register for the event here.

For literature on the 2020 Census and how it may affect your community, check out the reading below:

How Changes to the 2020 Census Timeline Will Impact Redistricting

Census in a Time of COVID-19: What can we do as individuals?

Resources for children and families

COVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives. All New Yorkers deserve to celebrate, honor, and memorialize their loved ones. Get funeral & burial guidance from the City of New York.

If your work schedule was reduced as a result of the coronavirus and you are unable to pay your rent, you can apply for a Cash Assistance special grant request to get benefits for emergencies.

The City of New York's COVID-19 Hotel Program provides free hotel stays to eligible New Yorkers who cannot isolate where they live and frontline workers in the healthcare industry who wish to reduce the risk of transmission at home. This will help New York City stop the spread of COVID-19.

Scholastic Learn At Home allows open access to daily learning journeys divided into four grade spans—Pre-K–K, Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5, and Grades 6–9+, covering ELA, STEM, Science, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Learning. 

CORE: CHILDREN OF RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES is dedicated to serving food and beverage service employees with children, who are faced with a health crisis or a natural disaster and are in need of support and in need of our help. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you can apply here. 

Resources for artists, freelancers, and gig workers

Rauschenberg Emergency Grant Program provides one-time grants to artists of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies.

Max’s Emergency Relief & Resource Fund is a one-time grant award of between $500-$1000 ($1,000 when funds are available) to assist artists in all art disciplines who have a steady work history, but who are experiencing a temporary financial set back.  Visit their application here. 

In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artist community, on March 18 Foundation for Contemporary Arts launched the FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund. To find out your eligibility, click here.  

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of American have developed an Emergency Fund to help genre writers pay medical expenses not otherwise covered by insurance. Visit their website for more information.

Employment Resources

New York State is waiving the 7-day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines. Visit the New York State Department of Labor (DOL)  website for more information.

The New York State Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires businesses to give early warning of closing and layoffs. More information for business is available from the New York State Department of Labor. 

Find Employment through Virtual Workforce Career Center online. The Virtual Workforce1 Career Center system connects New Yorkers, via web or phone, to one-on-one help from professionals who can help.

NY Job Listings during Quarantine organized by Davide Chen. 

PTFB is offering assistance in finding employment at Northwell Health for FOH/BOH foodservice and housekeeping positions. Find out how to apply here.

Resources for the Undocumented Community

List of Resources for Undocumented People in NYC may be located here. Document is translated in three languages, English, Spanish and Portuguese. 

For more information regarding DACA, check out Informed Immigrants.

CUNY Citizenship will be live, May 13th at 12:00PM on Facebook with Shawn Rahman, Managing Attorney for Training and Capacity Building with the latest immigration updates.

Contact Jesus Perez if you are an undocumented student at Brooklyn College who needs support via email: jperez@brooklyn.edu or phone: 718.951.5023

Funding Opportunities

The Carroll and Milton Petrie Student Emergency Grant Fund was created to provide eligible students facing short-term, nonrecurring emergencies with a one-time grant to alleviate the situation.  To find if you are eligible, visit the Brooklyn College’s Website. 

Volunteer or Participation Resources

The NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives has joined the national #ShareMyCheck campaign to encourage those in a relatively stable position to donate all or a portion of their check to people who are not eligible for these checks - those that are historically and contemporarily most impacted by economic and health crises. 

LGBTQ+ Resources

Ohher Publishing angels is offering $50 relief funds for trans/non-binary/two spirt people of color who are in need of community support right now. To learn more, visit Leste Magazine. 

Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. If you are in need of mental health assistance, visit their website here. 

 Upcoming Webinars

Tuesday, May 12: 2:00PM-3:30 PM: Brookings’ Reopening the Coronavirus-Closed Economy

Wednesday, May 13, 6:00PM-7:00PM: Make The Road New York will host a Seminario Web De Estudio Comunitario (community study webinar) on Facebook live.

Thursday, May 14, 2020 4:00pm-7:00pm: New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives is hosting a COVID-19 Health Awareness Training. The goal of this program is to Increase health and safety awareness for workers in industries with potential exposure to COVID-19.  

Remember to Follow Our Elected Officials For Up To Date News:  

Stay up to date with information provided by Governor Cuomo. Follow our New York State governor on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up to date information regarding new health guidelines closures, and executive orders. 

The Mayor has a new Daily Message available on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube every morning. If your constituents have questions, comments or concerns, they want him to respond to, they can send them using the hashtag #AskMyMayor 

The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President provides the most up-to-date information and resources to Brooklynites. Follow these pages regularly and follow Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on social media for real-time updates.

Congresswoman for the 9th District, Yvette D. Clark is working hard in Congress to support our local communities. Follow the Congresswoman on her Twitter to receive updates on what is going on in Washington DC and resources available in your ‘hood!

Follow updates and news from Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo on Facebook and Twitter. Cumbo serves as the Council Majority leader for Brooklyn’s 35th District- Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bed-Stuy.

Follow New York City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, representing Brooklyn 36th District- Bedford Stuyvesant and Northern Crown Heights on Twitter , Facebook, and Instagram for important updates regarding COVID-19 updates. 

Check out New York City Council Member Brad Lander’s resource page aimed to help NYC-based freelancers and artists navigate these uncertain times. Have your voice heard, fill out the survey and explore what benefits might be available to you. Follow him on Twitter for important updates.

Follow updates from the NYC City Immigrant Affairs office on Twitter interested in renewing your DACA application form. Call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365. 

Roxanne Swentzell (Kah'p'oo Owinge (Santa Clara Pueblo), born 1962). Making Babies for Indian Market, 2004. Clay, pigment. Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Helen Thomas Kennedy, 2004.80. © artist or artist's estate

[belliesandburps]

Updates!

So!  I know my page has been pretty dead these past few weeks, so lemme delve into a few things of note in lieu of all this COVID-Craziness:

I’m working on a number of commissions kinda all at once.  I got a BUNCH over a short period of time, and I kinda NEEDED to take ‘em all on, why’ll become clear in the next point.

I got laid off two weeks ago because our branch went under due to the virus causing a number of our distributors to close their doors, which demolished our business.  As a result, as a long time delivery guy, I’ve taken to DoorDash to pay the bills, and found a good system to make a minimum of $110 a day, which is about what I’d need to pay rent and have SOMETHING to lean on.  Commissions definitely help pay some other bills....soooo, if people are wondering why I just sorta grab why I can, that’s why.  :P

I’m still turning 31 this Saturday, May 30th.  And sadly, my birthday is one thing the pandemic HASN’T changed in my life.  ‘XD

I’m nearing 2,000 Watchers, and have a few things planned for that occasion once things clear up.

I’m sort of working on making a video game (non-kink related)

I’m also still working on my actual series involving all my OC’s.  The title is still pending.

For some reason, I’m helping a work friend file a class action lawsuit against a dating company that screwed her out of $4,300 and has apparently screwed over quite a few people.  They’re gonna take this story to local news since she has a friend hooked up to Bay Area News looking for stories like these.

Santa Clara is Ground Zero for the entire country, and I’m not 100% okay with the idea of us entering Phase 3 already.  Part of me is worried that Gavin Newsom MIGHT be caving to pressure to reopen, and I sincerely hope that isn’t the case, because while he was slow to respond (the first death in the entire country was February 6th, meaning the LATEST the cases first hit our shores was mid-January, potentially earlier than that...and it was HERE WHERE I LIVE), he HAS been doing a good job and taking this thing incredibly seriously.   And as a Delivery Driver, I hate the idea of us hitting a second wave and spike in cases because we opened too soon.  I don’t want us to end up like Texas and Florida.

So that’s why my page has been a bit slow.  I’m pretty much gone most of the day, 7 days a week, and mainly get commission work and other stuff done in the mornings and evenings when I’m off work.  I DO have a loooooot of stuff planned that I think you guys are gonna enjoy.  But make no mistake, my page hasn’t died.  I’m just busting my hump because I gotta sorta work double time just to maintain my financial status quo. 

Gimme a break, in internet years, I’m a freakin’ grandpa.  ‘XD

[magictymdigital]

TOP IT COMPANIES OF NEW DELHI-NCR

Although Delhi is not on the list of four cities that have made a name for themselves in the information technology (IT) industry and their economy is thriving in the sector, it is fast catching up. Leading the list is, of course, Bangalore, India’s silicon region, followed closely by Hyderabad, Kennai and Pune where most of the major software and ITES companies are located. As for Delhi, it has hundreds of software companies but not a few that make it a top league.

Delhi, the capital of India, is proud of all the government offices and buildings in India. In addition, it is also famous for its rich culture and heritage. From old buildings to new supermarkets and offices, Delhi has a combination of everything. However, most people do not know that Delhi / NCR also participate in many top IT companies in Delhi, India and, therefore, make it a city for everyone.

It is important to install the NCR to better understand the growth of the sector. Noida and Gurgaon are both satellite cities and sub-states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, respectively, with a strong and strong IT industry to grow. Noida, which is very close to Delhi, is home to many software companies, many of which operate outside the software development park. The availability of trained professionals from various engineering centers in Noida and the suburbs that provide cheap labor has attracted the industry to the city and is now giving Bangalore the money to buy!

Gurgaon has grown in recent years not only back in the real estate sector but IT or the BPO industry is equally responsible for the city’s tremendous growth and development. Nearly all major BPO industries such as Genpact (which was the first), Convergys, HCL, Accenture, EXL, Wipro and many other telecommunications facilities fill a few hundred to a few thousand seats operating outside the Gurgaon glazed glass towers. The availability of a large number of English-speaking workers, cheaper power (and increasingly growing) and the ‘useful time’ separation between the United States and Europe and India, have had a significant impact on local economic growth. Delhi itself has specialized experience in web development and design as a unique marketing point. You can find the best web services competing with your counterparts in the West and India at very competitive prices. All web services games include design, development, web marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), static and dynamic websites and ecommerce websites and solutions. Money stands in Delhi in terms of web development and without a doubt; you can get the highest amount of money spent.

The top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR are as follows-

1. HCL Infosystems Ltd. HCL Infosystems is part of HCL Enterprise. HCL Info-system systems were introduced with the production of micro-computing calculators back in 1976. It is an IT and distribution Services Company and a solution company based in India. The company operates in a variety of categories including Distribution & Learning, Hardware Products & Services. The company has a wide range of product portfolio including Digitally Enabled Learning & Career Development Solutions, IT & Services Integration Services and the distribution of technology and mobility services. The company is among the top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT- Hardware Company Type: India’s Top 500 Office Level: Head Office Location: Noida / Uttar Pradesh — 201301

2. HCL Technologies Ltd. HCL Technologies Ltd was founded in 1976 by Shiv Nadar. Its headquarters are in Noida, India. It offers a variety of services including IT, Business Consulting and Outsourcing Services. It is an Indian MNC company. It operates in a variety of fields including health science and health care, aerospace and defense, energy and resources, retail and consumer, small operator, travel, communications, storage, hospitality, etc. The company is among the top 10 IT companies in Delhi. -NCR.

Category: ITES — BPO, KPO, LPO, MT, Information Technology (IT) Sub-industry: BPO, KPO, Call Center, IT Software, App Development Company Type: India’s Top 500 Office Level: Head Office Location: Noida / Uttar Pradesh — 201303

3. Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic Pvt Ltd Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic Pvt Ltd was established in 1991. The company is well known and famous for designing IT platforms that work well to help Government and PSUs deal with growing challenges and uncertainties. It is a well-known Indian product of Integrated IT Solutions. It is having expertise in providing the latest security services and reliable IT solutions.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT- Cloud Computing, Datacenter, Networking, Security Company Type: MNC Office Level: Head Office Location: New Delhi / Delhi — 110020

4. Iris Computers Ltd. Iris Computers Ltd was established in 1996. It is one of the top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR. Also, it is one of the largest IT distribution companies in India. The company provides desktop, laptop, and printer, CCTV camera, workspace, computer software, keyboard, and hard disk products, as well as providing nIris Computers Ltd.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT- Hardware Company Type: 501–1000 India Office Level: Head Office Location: New Delhi / Delhi — 110037 Phone number: Click here Website: Click hereetwork installation, management, support, and storage services.

5. Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd Microsoft India Private Limited is a subsidiary of the Microsoft software company Microsoft Corporation, headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The company has offices in all major cities of India including Kochi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, NCR, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, etc. Microsoft India operates six business units in India-

a. Microsoft India (R&D) Private Limited b. Microsoft IT India (MSIT India) c. Microsoft Microsoft Services Global Delivery (MSGD) d. Microsoft Research India (MSR India) e. Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. (MCIPL) f. Center Microsoft Support Technology Center (NTSC)

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT Software, App Development Company Type: MNC Office Level: Head Office Location: Gurgaon / Gurugram / Haryana — 122002

6. NIIT Technologies Ltd. INIIT Technologies Ltd was founded in 2004 by Rajendra S. Pawar and Vijay K. Thadani. It offers a variety of services including outsourcing services, business consulting and IT. The company has a customer base throughout Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. It provides a variety of services including IP assets and platform solutions, application development and maintenance, infrastructure management services and business process outsourcing. It is one of the top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR.

7. Oracle India Pvt Ltd Oracle India Pvt Ltd is one of the top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR. It was founded in 1977, in Santa Clara, California by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, Ed Oates. Its headquarters are in Redwood Shores, Redwood City, California, United States. The company focuses on building and marketing cloud-based applications, data and technology software, and enterprise software products.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT Software, App Development Company Type: MNC Office Level: Head Office Location: Gurgaon / Gurugram / Haryana — 122003 Phone number: Click here Website: Click here

8. Ricoh India Ltd. One of the top 10 IT companies in Delhi-NCR, Ricoh India Ltd is based in Tokyo. It has a global technology leader with jobs in many countries around the world. It has an Indian network in a pan with more than 1000 business partners. The company was founded in 1936. The company is involved in the provision of information technology (IT) services, printers and other resources. It focuses mainly on office imaging equipment, production printing solutions, and document management systems. It offers a variety of products and solutions, including office printers, digital printers, production printers, production systems, and video conference solutions, and related software technologies.

9. Siemens Industry Software India Pvt Ltd Siemens PLM software is a world-leading provider of muscle management products and manufacturing operations management software. The company’s main function is to provide product life cycle management and CAD / CAM software and services related to hi-tech technology, design, and manufacturing throughout the UK and other parts of the world.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT Software, App Development Company Type: MNC Office Level: Head Office Location: Gurgaon / Gurugram / Haryana — 122002

10. Team Computers Pvt Ltd Team Computers Pvt Ltd was founded in 1987 by Ranjan Chopra. The company provides information technology services. The company provides IT infrastructure, data, cloud, business applications, and managed service solutions. The company has 25+ offices throughout India. It is one of the most well-known companies in the IT industry.

Category: Information Technology (IT) Sub-Industry: IT- Hardware, IT- Cloud Computing, Datacenter, Networking, Security Company Type: Industry Top Office Level: Head Office Location: New Delhi / Delhi — 110066

That was exactly the list of the 10 best IT companies in Delhi. Delhi as the capital of India has all the amenities and luxury one looks for in any major city. For tech-savvy people, choosing multiple IT companies in the capital is just a piece of cake:

So what are you waiting for? Go Dillii!

To assist you in your search for partners, we have compiled this list of the top Delhi software development companies. Browse through descriptions, feedback, and awards to find out which ones best fit your company’s needs.

[santaclaralocalnews]

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is talking about a new, mid-year rate increase, about six months after the last increase. In May, SVP is expected to bring the issue to the Santa Clara City Council. The utility wants to increase rates by 5% starting July 1, 2023. According to the City press release, “As you may have read in the headlines, unforeseeably high natural gas prices have had a significant impact on electric and gas utilities throughout California. Read more at svvoice.com

[ohdarlingplease]

Social Issue

Healthcare There are so many obstacles when it comes to receiving quality healthcare. Even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, there are tons of gaps in convereage ESPECIALLY for mental health resources. The United States spends more money, inidvidually on healthcare than any other country. Psychologists and Social Workers offer help to individuals, groups and entire communities, so it definitely matters if one person is struggling or an entire community is struggling to find proper, necessary care. The COVID-19 pandemic has proved just how essential access to healthcare is. Still there are communities that can't obtain proper tests, treatment, or access to mentel health professionals. 8 Artists, 9 Counties: Blue Shield of California’s Community Outreach Campaign to Promote Health During the Pandemic OAKLAND, Calif. (August 11, 2020) – Blue Shield of California is teaming up with artists in nine counties to create original artwork as part of an education and awareness campaign that offers support and encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic to members who face health-related challenges. More than 200,000 Blue Shield members, ages 35 to 64, will receive customized-art postcardsover the next two weeks that encourage them to build healthy habits, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. For example, taking advantage of the nonprofit health plan’s Wellvolution program to better manage stress, treat existing conditions, and improve mental and physical health. Wellvolution offers members more than 50 digitally driven health programs to choose from, which address specific health goals, conditions and health risks, and the program is available to most Blue Shield members at no additional cost. This outreach campaign is the latest example of Blue Shield’s efforts to help members prioritize their health from the convenience and safety of their homes to prevent, treat or even reverse chronic conditions. Eight artists are participating in this initiative. Their artwork reflects the local identities of the nine counties they represent and interprets the theme “food is medicine.” The artists for this program were chosen for their community engagement as artists and advocates for a wide range of causes that include mental health, diversity and inclusion, and ending homelessness.

“With this art collaboration, we’re stepping outside our ‘clinical’ engagement with members,” said Angie Kalousek, director, Mind-Body Medicine at Blue Shield. “We’re tapping into local pride and the power of art to help inspire and give comfort to people during this pandemic, which is having profound effects on the physical and emotional wellbeing of us all. Art chronicles our lives and experiences and reflects cultural values, beliefs and identities. Our theme that  food is medicine is intended to support members and inspire them to use healthy food as a strong, shareable source of connection with each other.”

Kern County- Sarah Nobles and Kei Deragon

Bakersfield is home to muralists Sarah Nobles and Kei Deragon. Each  has a life story that has a profound influence on their art. Kei is a veteran of the U.S. Army; she served as a combat medic and now uses her art to navigate service-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sarah survived homelessness at a young age and discovered that art was a haven and healthy outlet for her experiences.  Inspired to community activism  by hate speech painted on a neighborhood wall, Sarah and Kei co-founded Creative Crossing, an art group working to beautify and create safer spaces in Bakersfield’s Oleander neighborhood. They don’t accept payment for their murals; instead they reinvest profits and donations from their projects in artists and the community. In May, Creative Crossing partnered with Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for the purpose of spreading awareness for Mental Health Awareness Month, creating a socially distanced chalk-art scavenger hunt for residents.

Los Angeles and Ventura counties – Sally Deng

Sally Deng was born and raised in Los Angeles to Chinese immigrant parents who owned a restaurant in the city’s Arts District/Skid Row. That’s where she taught herself to draw. Sally graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with a BFA degree. Her talent and hard work have led to many successful projects, including creating illustrations for Stanford Medicine, The New York Times, Vice, Barron’s, and The Atlantic that tell stories of  immigration, the outdoors, and women. She was included in the 2020 Art & Style List for “Forbes 30 Under 30.”

Orange County – Larissa Marantz

Illustrator, cartoonist and educator, Larissa Marantz creates visually appealing images and teaches students young and old how to do the same. She has taught art to elementary school students for more than 15 years and has been an adjunct faculty member of Laguna College of Art & Design for 12 years. After earning her BFA degree at California State University, she worked as a character designer for Nickelodeon’s Rocket Power and Rugrats shows. Inspired by her family life, she began illustrating children’s books, and continued drawing Rugrats for Simon Spotlight Publishing.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties – Belen Ledezma

A Chicana artist raised in San Bernardino, Belen Ledezma studied art San Bernardino Valley College, but mostly is self-taught. An artist and teacher, Belen uses her creativity to influence her community and teach art basics to young children. She is involved in work related to inclusivity and the diversity of San Bernardino and the Inland Empire, especially for women. She is deeply focused on her Indigenous/Latinx roots, which are reflected in her art. Belen has been a featured artist with San Bernardino Generation Now, a community-driven network that leverages the arts to educate the public on local socio-political issues and create civic engagement opportunities that embrace San Bernardino’s diverse cultural demographics.

Sacramento County – Franceska Gámez

Born in Manila, Franceska Gámez was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned a BFA degree from Sacramento State University. She now resides in Sacramento and her murals are featured locally and across the world. She is a co-founder and the owner of 1810 Arts Gallery, established to create a space for local artists to showcase their work. Franceska is also a founding member of the nonprofit M5 Arts Collective, which creates free art experiences for Sacramento residents and is a member of Trust Your Struggle, an artist collective dedicated to social justice, environmental sustainability and community activism.

San Diego County – Hanna Gundrum

Hanna Gundrum is a San Diego transplant who earned a BFA degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her artistic style bloomed out of a need to create art from her tiny apartment on a student budget. Socially minded and with a sense of civic responsibility, Hanna is involved with Art Reach San Diego and puts her creative talents to work creating murals with youth at schools and community centers. In addition to her studio art and mural creations, she also works as an artist mentor to adults with developmental disabilities. Hanna uses her creativity to encourage people struggling with mental health to speak about their experiences.

Santa Clara County – Harumo Sato

A Japanese visual artist from Mountain View, Calif., Harumo Sato has lived or traveled in Japan, France, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy and Spain. After experiencing sudden illness and severe natural disasters in her early life, Harumo now creates work that promotes coexistence with nature and creates peace in viewers’ minds. Her art is owned by public and private collections and she has exhibited in solo and group shows in California and New York.

[brajeshupadhyay]

The public health officer in one of California’s biggest counties warned this week that the state was relaxing reopening guidelines too quickly, heightening the risk of a spike in COVID-19 cases. Santa Clara Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody, whose county is home to Silicon Valley and was one of the first in the nation to institute a shelter-in-place order, voiced her concerns at a county Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that counties could allow protests and reopen places of worship, in-person retail and hair salons, with some capacity limitations. Hair salon reopenings are limited to 47 and the state’s 58 counties. “The pace at which the state has made these modifications is concerning to me,” Cody said, noting that it takes anywhere from 14 to 21 days for officials to see whether previous steps toward reopening caused an uptick in COVID-19 cases.  “The state modifications are being made without a real understanding of the consequences of what the last move has been,” risking “an exponential growth in cases, and therefore a risk to social and economic wellbeing,” she said.  The Washington Post via Getty Images Dr. Sara Cody, director of the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, is sounding the alarm on California’s latest reopening guidelines. Allowing counties to resume in-person worship and protests is “particularly concerning,” Cody said. Those gatherings are capped at 25% capacity with a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower ― a much higher limit than New York’s 10-person and New Jersey’s 25-person limits, she noted.  But health officials in other populous California counties have more confidence in the current plan, particularly since Newsom is allowing county leaders to impose stricter rules than his. It’s “worth noting the Governor continues to reinforce local authority, recognizing the variation in disease activity across the state,” Neetu Balram, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Public Health Department, told HuffPost when reached for comment on Cody’s concerns.  Alameda County, which includes Oakland, is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases after relaxing some rules on May 18, which Balram notes can probably be attributed to both increased social contact and increased testing. The county isn’t seeking to immediately reopen any of the businesses Newsom approved this week.  “[W]e need to ensure we don’t let the rate escalate too quickly and overwhelm our healthcare system,” Balram said. “We are also closely monitoring the impacts seen in other jurisdictions that have loosened restrictions on earlier timelines.” Sacramento County, home to the state capital, is among the 47 counties that are allowed to reopen hair salons, restaurant dining rooms and other higher-risk activities. Reached for comment on Cody’s concerns, Sacramento County health officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye told HuffPost the county is “prepared to make adjustments as needed” as it evaluates the COVID-19 case load.  A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus Calling all HuffPost superfans! Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost’s next chapter The post California County Health Officer Says State Is Reopening Too Soon appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/05/california-county-health-officer-says.html

[bountyofbeads]

Coronavirus Updates: Trump Expands Travel Restrictions on Iran https://nyti.ms/3acqyXi

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: FIRST DEATH IN U.S. CONFIRMED IN SEATTLE AREA

The death comes as unexplained new cases in Washington State, Oregon and California suggest local, person-to-person spread of the virus in the United States.

Published February 29, 2020 | New York Times | Posted February 29, 2020 |

RIGHT NOW

A person in King County, Washington, near Seattle, has become the first in the country to die after contracting the coronavirus.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW :

READ UPDATES IN CHINESE: 新冠病毒疫情最新消息

F.D.A. ALLOWS NEW CORONAVIRUS TESTS. SOME ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday that it was authorizing American laboratories to develop their own coronavirus tests, which should significantly increase the country’s testing capacity.

The effect could be rapid. About 80 labs and private companies have applied for emergency approval for tests they have already created. If they have submitted evidence that the tests work, the labs and companies will be able to use them immediately, rather than wait for the F.D.A. to complete reviews and issue approvals.

“This action today reflects our public health commitment to addressing critical public health needs and rapidly responding and adapting to this dynamic and evolving situation,” the F.D.A.’s commissioner, Stephen M. Hahn, said in a statement.

Experts have been frustrated with the limited availability of coronavirus tests in the U.S., which until now could only be provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Broader testing will enable more rapid detection and isolation of people who have the coronavirus to help contain the spread of disease.

NEW CASES IN THE WESTERN U.S. AND IN THE U.K. RAISE PROSPECT OF LOCAL, PERSON-TO-PERSON SPREAD.

Troubling new signs of how the coronavirus is spreading in the United States and United Kingdom have emerged, as cases not explained by overseas travel or contact with a person known to be infected were reported in California, Oregon and Washington State, as well as England.

Officials from the three western states announced that their testing had found new cases: a high school student from Washington State; an employee of a school in Oregon, near Portland; and a woman in Santa Clara County, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley.

In Britain, the health authorities were investigating the country’s first known case of local transmission. The patient was believed to be a man from Surrey, in southeastern England, who had not traveled abroad recently, according to the BBC.

The patient was being treated at a specialist center in Central London, Professor Whitty said. Three further cases were confirmed on Saturday, he said, two recently returned from Italy and one recently returned from Asia.

The latest diagnoses raised the number of coronavirus cases in Britain to 23, with 18 in England and one each in Northern Ireland and Wales.

The announcement came after a man who was infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan became the first Briton to die from coronavirus.

In the United States, 65 cases of the virus have been reported, but until this week, all of them could be explained by overseas travel or contact with someone who had been ill. The three new cases on Friday, and a case earlier in the week, in California, were the first in the United States in which the cause was mysterious and unknown — a sign, experts warned, that the virus might now be spreading in this country.

“If we were worried yesterday, we are even more worried today,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Now we have to ask: How widely, really widely, is this virus out there?”

As word emerged of the unexplained cases, local officials scrambled to trace everyone who had come in contact with those who were ill. California health officials said they were increasing testing. And in Washington State, officials suggested that people needed to prepare for the possibility of schools closing and businesses keeping workers home.

“We’re going to be increasingly recommending that people try and avoid crowds and close contact with other people,” Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health Seattle & King County, said. “We may get to a point where we want to recommend canceling large public gatherings — social events, sporting events, entertainment — until we get over a hump of what might be a large outbreak.”

[ RACING TO TRACK DOWN CONTACTS

Officials in three states are scrambling to identify anyone the infected patients had been in contact with. SEE BELOW]

CONFIRMED CASE TOTAL PASSES 85,000 WORLDWIDE.

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus around the globe passed 85,000 on Saturday, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University that draws on data from four sources, including the World Health Organization.

Of the more than 85,400 cases recorded, more than 79,000 were in mainland China.

Qatar confirmed its first case of the virus on Saturday, its health ministry said, bringing the number of countries where the virus has been detected to at least 57. The country’s health ministry said in a statement that the patient was a 36-year-old Qatari citizen who had been in quarantine since recently returning from Iran.

Iran, which has been at the center of the virus’s spread in the region, confirmed an additional 205 cases on Saturday, bringing its official total to 593. It also confirmed a further nine deaths from the virus, bringing the official death toll in the country to 43.

FRANCE WILL BAN LARGE GATHERINGS AS EUROPE BATTLES THE SPREAD OF VIRUS.

France will ban gatherings of more than 5,000 people in enclosed spaces and all gatherings in Oise, its region most affected by the coronavirus, the country’s health minister said on Saturday, as he reported a further 16 confirmed cases of the virus.

That brings France’s total cases to 73, more than 50 of which were confirmed in the past few days. Of the country’s coronavirus cases, 59 remain hospitalized, 12 have been released, and two have died.

The minister, Olivier Véran, also said at a news conference Saturday afternoon that a half-marathon scheduled for Sunday in Paris would be canceled.

In some areas in Oise and in Haute-Savoie, a southeastern region that is home to the other cluster of infections in France, schools will be closed starting on Monday, the minister said.

MIPIM, a giant annual real-estate event held in Cannes, France, that had been scheduled for March, also announced on Saturday that it would be postponed until June.

Spain, where the caseload rose to 51 on Saturday, is still allowing large gatherings. Officials say that the spread within the country is taking place at a “controlled” pace.

But on Saturday, the authorities in the northeastern region of Catalonia ordered people showing symptoms of coronavirus to stay at home rather than go to hospitals, stressing that patients crowding into medical establishments risked spreading the virus more rapidly.

People with fever and other symptoms should call a special emergency number and wait for a medical team to visit them and gather a sample for testing, Alba Vergès, a Catalan health official, told a news conference.

In Italy — the center of the outbreak in Europe, with 888 confirmed cases and 21 deaths — the main professional soccer league, Serie A, postponed five matches scheduled for this weekend.

In a revised schedule posted to Twitter on Saturday, the five games, including a clash between the league leader, Juventus, and third-place Inter Milan, are set for May 13, at venues to be decided.

[ ITALY’S OUTBREAK: It’s not the plague, but Milan isn’t itself either. SEE TIMELINE]

SOUTH KOREA REPORTS 813 NEW CASES, AND THE NORTH CALLS FOR ALL-OUT CONTAINMENT.

South Korea, which has the largest coronavirus outbreak outside China, reported 813 new cases on Saturday, bringing its total to 3,150. In North Korea, Kim Jong-un ordered all-out efforts to fight the virus at a high-level meeting, state media reported.

South Korean officials have warned that confirmed cases would rise sharply as they aggressively tested thousands of people, particularly in the southeastern city of Daegu. More than 86 percent of patients have been in Daegu and nearby towns; many have been associated with a church called Shincheonji, which has a strong presence in Daegu.

The United States military, which has more than 28,000 personnel in South Korea, said on Saturday that the spouse of an American soldier infected with the virus had also tested positive for it. She had been in self-quarantine since Wednesday, following her husband’s diagnosis, and was being transported to a military hospital, the military said.

Also on Saturday, Mr. Kim, North Korea’s leader, convened the Politburo of his ruling party to order an all-out campaign to prevent an outbreak, state media reported. The North has not reported any coronavirus cases, but there has been concern that it could be hiding an outbreak.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that officials had discussed “measures to deter the influx and spread of the infectious disease in a scientific, pre-emptive and lockdown way.”

North Korea has already closed its 930-mile border with China, where the coronavirus emerged, and its border with Russia, as well as suspending all flights and trains to and from China and asking all foreign diplomats not to leave their compounds. But the Chinese border, which runs along a shallow river, has long been porous for smugglers.

The state media report Saturday also said that Mr. Kim had fired one of his top aides, Ri Man-gon, and another official for corruption, but it was unclear whether the dismissals were connected to the antivirus campaign.

TRUMP SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE USING VIRUS AS “THEIR NEW HOAX.”

During a freewheeling rally in South Carolina on Friday night, President Trump accused his rivals of politicizing the coronavirus outbreak and perpetuating a ��new hoax” against him, though there was no evidence for his claims.

“They tried the impeachment hoax,” Mr. Trump said of Democrats, who have criticized his administration’s response to the outbreak as inadequate. “They lost. It is all turning. Think of it. Think of it. And this is their new hoax.”

The president suggested that the news media had also fanned panic over the outbreak, accusing it of being in “hysteria mode.”

As proof that he had the outbreak under control, the president cited his decision to bar foreign nationals who had recently been in China from entering the United States. Experts have disagreed on the effectiveness of border closures and quarantines, but Mr. Trump appeared to tie his decision to his calls for tighter immigration policies.

“We must understand that border security is also health security,” he said.

Other members of Mr. Trump’s administration have also urged calm about the outbreak, though in less explicitly political terms. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump tapped Vice President Mike Pence to lead the country’s coronavirus response, and on Thursday, several officials told The Times that government health officials and scientists were being directed to coordinate all statements and public appearances with Mr. Pence’s office.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the country’s leading experts on viruses and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has told associates that the White House had instructed him not to make public statements without clearance.

[ THE POLITICAL FALLOUT: Read our full story on President Trump’s accusations at a “Keep America Great” rally. ” SEE TIMELINE]

JAPAN AND HONG KONG MOVE TO COMPENSATE PARENTS AS SCHOOLS SHUT.

The government in Japan, which this week asked all the country’s schools to close for a month, will offer subsidies to parents and other caregivers to help offset the cost, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday, as part of a coronavirus emergency spending package totaling 270 billion yen, or $2.5 billion.

The plan will also seek to help small and medium businesses and boost health care.

Mr. Abe did not offer more details, but he said that the overall emergency package would be crafted in around 10 days. The educational subsidies would be available to parents who had to take time off work, whether they worked full- or part-time, he said. Government officials would also work to help childcare programs extend their hours.

Just a few other countries have suspended classes nationwide. One is China, where the outbreak began.

In Hong Kong, schools will not reopen until at least the end of April. Officials there aannounced subsidy measures last week. The education secretary, Kevin Yeung, said the government would use anti-virus funding to boost a recently announced grant program by 1,000 Hong Kong dollars per pupil in kindergarten, primary school or secondary day-school. The additions would bring the total granted to each school year to 3,500 Hong Kong dollars, or about $450, per student.

A CHINESE TRAVEL GIANT SEEKS A BAILOUT AND APPEARS TO BE SKIRTING NATIONALIZATION.

HNA Group, the Chinese giant once famous for its dramatic global shopping spree, has asked the Chinese government to help bail it out as it struggles with a slowdown from the coronavirus outbreak.

The company, which owns Hainan Airlines and several air-travel-related assets, said it could not deal with a cash crunch on its own after flight cancellations across China and overseas. In a statement posted to its Chinese social media account, the company said it requested the help of a working group of officials from the province of Hainan, where it is headquartered.

It was not immediately clear whether the move amounted to a formal nationalization of the already troubled company, which has wrestled with tens of billions of dollars of debt after scooping up companies around the world, from a Swiss logistics firm to stakes in Deutsche Bank and even Hilton Worldwide Hotels.

Officials from the civil aviation administrator and China Development Bank will take over the responsibility of managing the company’s risk, HNA said on Saturday. The group would be led by Gu Gang, who is chairman of Hainan Development Holdings Co., the investment unit of the government of Hainan.

HNA also said that it would add two more seats to its board, including Mr. Gu, who would become executive chairman. Ren Qinghua, another official and director of the Administrative Committee of Yangpu Economic Development, would join the board and be made co-chief executive officer alongside Adam Tan, the current top executive.

A FIFTH DIAMOND PRINCESS PASSENGER TESTED POSITIVE AFTER INITIALLY BEING CLEARED.

A Japanese man who was allowed to disembark from the Diamond Princess cruise ship after testing negative for the virus has now tested positive — after he took public transportation home, according to Japanese officials.

He is the fifth passenger to test positive after disembarking and being allowed to travel freely.

The man, who is in his 70s, was among nearly 1,000 people allowed to leave the virus-stricken cruise ship last week, after two weeks of quarantine in the port of Yokohama. The cruise ship, which originally carried 3,700 passengers and crew, became a hotbed of infection: More than 700 people who were aboard have tested positive, and at least six people have died.

The man had tested negative for the virus when he disembarked on Feb. 20, and he used public transportation to travel home to the city of Sendai, about 250 miles north. But on Friday, he developed a sore throat and a slight fever, according to an announcement by Sendai’s mayor. He was confirmed to be infected on Saturday. His family tested negative.

The high number of infections aboard the Diamond Princess, and a sometimes chaotic disembarkation process, have brought intense scrutiny upon Japanese officials. Japan’s health minister was forced to apologize after 23 people left the ship without being tested.

CAN YOU GET REINFECTED BY THE VIRUS? EXPERTS SAY IT’S UNLIKELY.

Reports of coronavirus patients testing positive for the virus again after recovering have raised alarm, but health experts say it’s likely that faulty tests are to blame.

The Japanese government reported this week that a woman in Osaka had tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time, weeks after recovering from the infection and being discharged from a hospital. Chinese officials have announced similar cases.

But experts said that recovered patients should have at least short-term immunity.

The apparent reinfections could be the result of false negatives when the patients were discharged, said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The throat swabs used to examine for the virus can be technically tricky, and they can miss an infection elsewhere in the body.

“A negative test is not a definitive that there is no more virus in that person,” Dr. Lipsitch said.

Even if patients test positive long after they stop displaying symptoms, they may no longer pose a transmission risk to others, according to a report published on Thursday in JAMA. And even if there are occasional cases of true reinfection, so far, they do not seem to be occurring in large enough numbers to be a priority.

[URGENT QUESTIONS They recovered from the virus. Were they infected again? SEE BELOW]

FOR COMPANIES, HOW BAD CAN IT GET?

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, the world’s biggest companies have begun painting a bleak picture of broken supply chains, disrupted manufacturing, empty stores and flagging demand for their wares.

The announcements by businesses like Mastercard, Microsoft, Apple and United Airlines offer a look at how the virus is affecting consumer behavior and business sentiment. These corporate bulletins — and what executives do in response — could determine how much economic damage the outbreak inflicts.

Some companies have expressed optimism that governments will curb new infections and that consumer spending in Europe and North America will be largely unscathed. But if executives see a threat beyond the first three months of the year, they may pare planned investments and even lay off workers.

The seven-day stock-market plunge this week, the steepest since the financial crisis, suggests that investors are bracing for bad news.

“Everything is slowing down even more — and that has not been fully appreciated,” said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

On Friday, the S&P 500 index fell about 0.8 percent, and the Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 1 percent. The S&P index lost more than 11 percent in the week, and almost 13 percent since its peak on Feb. 19.

In Europe, the Britain’s FTSE 100 fell more than 3 percent and the Dax in Germany fell more than 4 percent. In Asia, the Nikkei 225 in Japan closed down 3.7 percent, the KOSPI in South Korea dropped 3.3 percent and the Shanghai Composite in China dropped 3.7 percent.

[ GAUGING THE IMPACT: How businesses react to the outbreak could help determine if the economy slides into a recession. SEE TIMELIME]

______

Reporting and research were contributed by Peter Eavis, Donald G. McNeil Jr., Choe Sang-Hun, Thomas Fuller, Sheri Fink, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Raphael Minder, Amy Qin, Sui-Lee Wee, Vivian Wang, Katie Rogers, Apoorva Mandavilli, Peter Robins, Norimitsu Onishi, Motoko Rich and Makiko Inoue.

*********

UNEXPLAINED CORONAVIRUS CASES IN THREE STATES RAISE SPECTER OF SPREAD .... Officials in California, Oregon and Washington State said on Friday that people had tested positive for the coronavirus without a known explanation for how they became ill.

By Mike Baker, Sheri Fink, Thomas Fuller and Nicholas Bogle-Burroughs |

Published Feb. 28, 2020Updated Feb. 29, 2020, 10:19 a.m. ET | New York Times | Posted February 29, 2020 |

SEATTLE — Troubling new signs that the coronavirus is spreading in the United States emerged on Friday, as cases not explained by overseas travel or contact with a person known to be infected were reported in California, Oregon and Washington State.

Officials from the three states announced that their testing had found new cases: a high school student from north of Seattle; an employee of an elementary school in Oregon, near Portland; and a woman in Santa Clara County, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Sixty-five cases of the virus have been reported in the United States, but until this week, all of the cases could be explained by overseas travel or contact with someone who had been ill. The three new cases on Friday, and a case earlier in the week, in California, were the first in the United States where the cause was mysterious and unknown — a sign, experts warned, that the virus, which has killed more than 2,800 people worldwide and sickened tens of thousands of others, might now be spreading in this country.

[MILITARY CASE: U.S. military steps meant to stave off the virus may also compromise training and readiness SEE BELOW]

“If we were worried yesterday, we are even more worried today,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Now we have to ask: How widely, really widely, is this virus out there?”

As word emerged of the unexplained cases, local officials scrambled to trace everyone who had come in contact with those who were ill. California health officials said they were increasing testing. And in Washington State, officials suggested that people needed to prepare for the possibility of schools closing and businesses keeping workers home.

“We’re going to be increasingly recommending that people try and avoid crowds and close contact with other people,” Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health Seattle & King County, said. “We may get to a point where we want to recommend canceling large public gatherings — social events, sporting events, entertainment — until we get over a hump of what might be a large outbreak.”

In some of the new cases, officials described situations where those who were ill may have had contact with many people in recent days.

The student in Washington State who tested positive for coronavirus, according to state officials, had visited two health clinics and gone to his school in Snohomish County, Henry M. Jackson High School, on Friday before the diagnosis, although he did not attend classes.

Dr. Chris Spitters, health officer of the Snohomish Health District, said he suspected that the teenager probably got sick from someone with a mild form of the illness who did not seek care. “I think we’re going to find as time goes on that there’s more of that,” Dr. Spitters said.

In Oregon, a state that had not reported any previous cases of coronavirus, officials said an employee of Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego appeared to have contracted the virus more than a week ago.

Oregon health officials said their public health laboratory, which began testing samples on Friday, had detected the positive case; the sample will also be tested at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation, as will the new cases from Washington and California.

In California, a woman from Santa Clara County with chronic health conditions who was hospitalized for a respiratory illness was reported on Friday to have tested positive for infection with the virus. Two days earlier, officials in Solano County, Calif., 90 minutes from Santa Clara County, had announced the first case in the nation with no clear ties to any previous case or overseas travel.

In counties in and around each of the new type of cases, officials were bracing for what it might mean for everyday life. Some school districts were adding cleaning staff, scrubbing buildings and preparing for absences from school. Emergency medical officials were weighing new protocols. And some businesses were contemplating what working from home might mean for their operations.

One of the cases appeared in Santa Clara County, where Google and Apple have their headquarters and which also includes San Jose, the 10th-largest city in the nation.

“This has become very real for everyone in our community,” Sam Liccardo, the mayor of San Jose, said on Friday evening as he prepared to meet with city staff about the implications. “There’s certainly a lot of concern and the concern is justified.”

Emergency medical workers in San Jose who answer calls from people with coronavirus-like symptoms will now be instructed to wear protective clothing, he said. “We are going to need to take every reasonable precaution without resorting to panic or finger-pointing.”

For weeks, local and state health departments across the country have been stretched thin by the coronavirus outbreak, and the cases of unknown origin signaled a new front in their efforts. “Most public health departments can respond to one case or two cases,” Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins, said. “But it’s going to be many more than that.”

On Friday, California health officials said they had greatly expanded their ability to test for the virus, and experts said the public health response in the affected counties should include examining specimens of people who may have been hospitalized for or killed by a respiratory illness in recent weeks.

“This case does signal to us that it’s now time to shift how we respond to the novel coronavirus,” Dr. Sara Cody, the public health director for Santa Clara County, said. “Now we need to add other public health tools to the mix,” including looking systematically for the disease to understand its scope and magnitude, she said.

In Solano County, where the first U.S. case of unexplained origin was announced earlier in the week, local officials have fielded calls from scores of concerned residents.

“I’m middling alarmed,” said Rick Lodwick, as he tossed a jumbo pack of sanitizing wipes into the back of his car in the parking of a big box store in Vacaville.

“When I heard it was here, I thought, ‘We’re going to have trouble,’” Mr. Lodwick said.

Solano County, northeast of San Francisco, is a place of cattle ranches, biotechnology research facilities, a military base and vineyards. An investigation was started into all contacts the sick woman from the county might have had with friends, neighbors and medical workers.

“People are concerned and they’re paying attention,” said Jeremy Craig, the city manager of Vacaville. “But I don’t think there’s a panic.”

Restaurants were full on Friday, the manager of a movie theater said there had been no decline in ticket sales, and it was very rare to see someone wearing a mask.

Dr. Bela T. Matyas, the public health officer in Solano County, said officials had begun monitoring dozens of people with whom the woman who fell ill there had interacted in recent weeks — including relatives, co-workers and others she might have had contact with through her job — and had asked them to quarantine themselves at home. At least 124 nurses and other health care workers were under self-quarantine, a nurses’ union reported.

The woman was later taken by ambulance to the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. At that hospital in recent days, some workers seemed deeply concerned about possible exposure.

“I’m worried how this will affect my baby,” said Vickie Poncalo, a cashier at the hospital’s cafe who is seven months pregnant.

“Should we be wearing a mask and worrying that people are walking around here?” she asked. “Should I even be here?”

_____

Mike Baker reported from Seattle, Thomas Fuller from Vacaville, and Sheri Fink and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York. Reporting was contributed by Julie Checkoway from Sacramento, Joe Purtell from Vacaville and Amy Harmon, Roni Caryn Rabin, Reed Abelson, Knvul Sheikh and Dana Goldstein from New York.

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For American Military, Coronavirus Is an Enemy to Be Fought

The military’s first active-duty case, in South Korea, has commanders preparing a battle plan. But steps meant to stave off the virus may also compromise training and readiness.

By Dave Philips | Published Feb. 29, 2020 Updated 9:59 a.m. ET | New York Times | Posted February 29, 2020 |

The commander of an American military post near the center of a coronavirus outbreak in South Korea delivered the sobering news to his troops in warriors’ terms: “We had a breach in our perimeter.”

A soldier at the post, Army Garrison Daegu, had tested positive for the virus on Tuesday — the military’s first active-duty case — and the commander, Col. Edward Ballanco, told the troops in a video address, “Let’s regroup and attack the virus.”

The battle plan he announced was aggressive: Close the office buildings the infected soldier used. Have “clean teams” disinfect anywhere the soldier had been. Quarantine whomever he had come in contact with. At the post gates, screen everyone for fever, troops and civilians alike. Tell many civilian workers to stay home. Close the post’s schools, golf course and bowling alleys. Cancel upcoming social events like the father-daughter dance.

The coronavirus threat may still seem distant to much of civilian America, but it has been a clear and present danger for the military almost from the start. The United States has more than 75,000 troops stationed in countries that are experiencing outbreaks, including South Korea, Japan, Italy and Bahrain.

Several American bases sit next to cities where the virus is spreading, and they are intertwined with local communities, employing numerous civilian workers and housing many troops off base. A civilian worker at another Army post in South Korea tested positive on Thursday.

And in any kind of crisis, the nation’s first resort is often to call on the military’s capabilities and resources, as it did when infected Americans evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan were quarantined on two air bases.

As the virus spreads around the globe, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Congress this past week, the “first priority is protection of our people, both service members and families, and then make sure we protect our ability to accomplish our mission.” Whatever tasks troops may be called upon to perform, from erecting field hospitals in overwhelmed communities to transporting patients in cargo planes filled with isolation pods, military leaders have emphasized that they can be accomplished only if the troops are healthy.

This past week the military took several defensive steps against infection, curtailing some operations and restricting leave.

But like the global business supply chain, the United States military relies on constant movement of people and material among far-flung countries, so force protection can come at a cost. Steps meant to stave off or contain the virus may also compromise training and readiness.

That is already happening in South Korea, which has reported more than 1,700 cases of the viral illness, known as Covid-19. United States Forces Korea announced on Thursday that it was canceling annual joint military exercises with the South Korean military.

But officials said this past week that another joint training mission, in Thailand, had been allowed to go ahead.

“There is a balance we have to strike, and it’s not easy,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, who was assistant secretary of defense for health affairs from 2010 to 2016, and who coordinated the military’s response to the Ebola outbreak in 2015.

For as long as there have been armies, they have been menaced by the ready spread of diseases like typhoid, cholera and influenza that could tear through the ranks of troops in close quarters.

Even in wartime, illness and noncombat injuries “have claimed far more soldiers than gunshot wounds,” Dr. Woodson said. “That forced the military to created a robust public health system. You have to take care of the troops, or you have no one left to do the fighting.” In the Army’s dawning days, George Washington ordered all his soldiers to be inoculated against smallpox.

But health concerns have always competed with other priorities, Dr. Woodson said, and there is often debate over whether they should curtail operations, as they have in suspending the major exercise in South Korea.

“A lot of time, money and people are put into these exercises, and there are always people who want them to go forward,” he said. “But I think the leadership is being properly informed about the larger consequences.”

In many ways the military is better positioned than the civilian population to respond to a global outbreak. The armed forces are a young, healthy population that has universal health care. Bases with gates can easily limit access. Commanders have far more authority than civilian leaders to impose quarantines and vaccinations, close facilities and order troops to stay away from public gatherings.

“It’s the ideal public health environment, but it’s a double-edged sword,” said Carol R. Byerly, a former research historian for the Office of the Army Surgeon General. “You have great resources, great monitoring, but the needs of the military can also make the military more vulnerable.”

She noted that during World War I, the deadly 1918 flu pandemic was made worse by the mobilization of tens of thousands of young men who were concentrated in cramped Army training barracks.

The Army’s expert on communicable disease at the time, Dr. Victor Vaughan, visited Camp Devens in Massachusetts and was shocked by what he saw: “Hundreds of stalwart young men in the uniform of their country coming into wards of the hospital in groups of ten or more. They are placed on the cots until every bed is full, yet others crowd in. Their faces soon wear a bluish cast; a distressing cough brings up the bloodstained sputum. In the morning, the dead bodies are stacked about the morgue like cord wood.”

Dr. Vaughan and other military health officials appealed to President Woodrow Wilson to suspend the draft and stop sending crowded troopships to France. But generals seeking more troops for the trenches won the argument. The War Department later estimated that 35,000 American soldiers died of influenza before reaching Europe.

“You’ve always had competing priorities,” Ms. Byerly said. “Medical officers are often seen as the mother hens of the military, and they are often seen as a burden and not listened to.”

She said the military seemed to be reacting prudently to the coronavirus outbreak, but she warned that much was still unknown.

“It’s always important to remember the history of infectious disease isn’t over,” she said. “We’ve lived in a golden age without a real pandemic, but we can’t get cocky.”

In February, the military began executing a plan it developed in 2005 to battle a pandemic. The plan provides a blueprint for helping with evacuation and quarantine of patients, assisting with supplies and medical care, and, if needed, providing manpower to keep the nation’s critical infrastructure running.

As the threat levels laid out in military plans have been raised in recent weeks, more restrictions have been imposed. In several countries, including Bahrain, military schools have closed and students switched to online classes. At an Army post in northern Italy, theaters, gyms, day care centers and chapels have also been closed. Troops in South Korea were told on Thursday to cut all nonessential off-base activity.

Some Navy ships near infected ports have been ordered to stay at sea at least 14 days as a safeguard. Troops stationed in the Middle East and Central Asia were told on Thursday they could no longer take leave or liberty.

“The situation is not going to cure itself overnight,” Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier said in a video briefing to troops at the base in Italy. “In fact, it could get worse before it gets better.”

Colonel Ballanco, the post commander at Daegu, said in his video message that the infected soldier, a 23-year-old man, appeared to be doing well. Officials at the post did not respond to requests for further information.

In his address, Colonel Ballanco warned that while the Army would remain vigilant, “we have to watch out about going overboard.”

“The Army has to continue to function,” he said, adding, “If we have doubts, we put you in quarantine, but eventually, if 30 percent of our base is quarantined, we’re going to face some other problems.”

*********

Coronavirus Map: Tracking the Spread of the Outbreak

By K.K. Rebecca Lai, Jin Wu, Richard Harris, Allison McCann, Derek Watkins and Jugal K. Patel | Updated Feb. 29, 2020 | New York Times | Posted February 29, 2020 |

The coronavirus outbreak has sickened more than 85,900 people, according to official counts. As of Saturday afternoon, at least 2,938 people have died, all but 103 in mainland China.

As these maps show, the disease has been detected in at least 57 countries, most involving people who traveled from China, where the outbreak originated.

But sustained local transmission of the virus has been reported in South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran, raising fears of a global pandemic. The C.D.C. has  advised against all non-essential travel to South Korea, China, Italy and Iran. And the agency has warned older and at-risk travelers to avoid Japan.

Several people in the United States are infected despite having no known connect to previous cases, which suggests local, person-to-person spread of the virus. C.D.C. officials warned on Tuesday that future outbreaks are almost inevitable, given the number of cases around the world.

Sixty-five people are infected, almost all of whom traveled from Asia. A person in King County, Washington, near Seattle, was the first in the country to die after contracting the coronavirus.

CONFIRMED CASES

Many of the people infected in the United States are former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship who are currently in quarantine on military bases or in hospitals.

Follow the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak.

The outbreak is believed to have begun in a seafood and poultry market in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China. The virus is readily transmitted from person to person, scientists believe. But it’s unclear how far the virus will spread and how lethal it is.

The precise dimensions of the outbreak are hard to know, especially in China, which has changed its definition of a “confirmed” case several times. Not all infected people have received a diagnosis, and some countries, like Singapore and the United States, have more proactive testing and containment efforts than others do.

*********

They Recovered From the Coronavirus. Were They Infected Again?

In a few cases, patients again tested positive for the virus after they were no longer ill. But little is known about the virus, and it’s possible that testing flaws may be to blame.

By Apoorva Mandavilli | Published Feb. 29, 2020, 5:00 a.m. ET | New York Times | Posted February 29, 2020 |

Can people who recover from a bout with the new coronavirus become infected again — and again?

The Japanese government reported this week that a woman in Osaka had tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time, weeks after recovering from the infection and being discharged from a hospital.

Combined with reports from China of similar cases, the case in Japan has raised some uncomfortable questions.�� Reinfections are common  among people who have recovered from  coronaviruses that cause the common cold.

But those pathogens are very different from the new coronavirus, and experts said it’s unlikely that these are cases of people getting infected a second time.

“I’m not saying that reinfection can’t occur, will never occur, but in that short time it’s unlikely,” said Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Even the mildest of infections should leave at least short-term immunity against the virus in the recovering patient, he said.

More likely, the “reinfected” patients still harbored low levels of the virus when they were discharged from the hospital, and testing failed to pick it up.

Even if there were occasional cases of reinfection, they do not seem to be occurring in numbers large enough to be a priority at this point in the outbreak.

A report published Thursday in JAMA supports the idea that people may test positive for the virus long after they seem to have recovered.

In four medical professionals exposed to the virus in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the epidemic, a test that detects the viral genetic material remained positive five to 13 days after they were asymptomatic.

This does not necessarily mean that they were still able to infect others, however.

The PCR diagnostic test is highly sensitive and can amplify genetic material from even a single viral molecule. As such, the test could merely be picking up fragments of the virus.

PCR tests may detect remnants of the measles virus months after people who had the disease stop shedding infectious virus, Dr. Krammer said.

The other possibility is that the negative test was done poorly, or the samples were stored at a temperature at which the virus deteriorates. The throat swab may also simply miss the virus that is hiding elsewhere in the body.

“A virus test is positive if the virus was there on the swab in sufficient quantities at the time you swabbed the person,” said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“A negative test is not a definitive that there is no more virus in that person.”

Dr. Lipsitch offered an analogy: a jam jar with mold on top. Scraping off the surface might give the impression that the jam is now mold-free, but in fact the jar may still contain mold that continues to grow.

The Japanese woman initially had mild symptoms of coronavirus infection and tested positive in late January. She was released from the hospital on Feb. 1. She tested positive again on Wednesday after coming in for a sore throat and chest pain.

“That certainly sounds like it could be an actual resurgence of the virus in infectious form,” Dr. Lipsitch said. But, he added, “Single anecdotes are really hard to interpret.”

One worrisome possibility is that the coronavirus follows what is known as a biphasic infection: the virus persists and causes a different set of symptoms than observed in the initial bout.

In patients infected with Ebola, the virus may persist for months in the testes or eyes even after recovery — and can infect others and keep the epidemic going.

The recovered person, too, can develop other symptoms, including insomnia and neurological problems, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University.

“We don’t know if that’s the case with this coronavirus,” Dr. Rasmussen said. “We don’t know anything about this virus.”

Coronaviruses are on the whole poorly understood, she said. Before the SARS epidemic, coronaviruses were not known to cause serious illnesses.

Some scientists have said that people infected with the new coronavirus produce antibodies that will protect them in the future. And a single-patient report suggests that the immunity may last at least seven days.

But this finding is neither surprising nor reassuring, said Dr. Stanley Perlman, a coronavirus expert at the University of Iowa. “The issue is whether you’ll see it in seven months or in a year,” he said. “That’s what you care about.”

The new coronavirus closely resembles the ones that cause SARS and, to a lesser extent, MERS. There are no reports of reinfections with the SARS virus, Dr. Perlman said, and only one that he has heard of in a patient recovering from MERS.

Dr. Perlman’s research with MERS has shown that the strength of the immune response depends on the severity of the infection, but that even in those with severe disease — which should produce the strongest immune responses — the immunity seemed to wane within a year.

How long immunity lasts will also be a key question to resolve when designing a vaccine for the new coronavirus, particularly if the virus becomes a seasonal threat like influenza.

“What is the nature of immunity to this virus after infection?” Dr. Lipsitch said. “That’s a research question that’s urgent.”

**********

[sanjosenewshq]

Veo will get approval to deploy 300 e-scooters in Santa Clara East Bay Instances

Dozens of latest e-scooters will quickly line the streets of Santa Clara in an environmentally pleasant transfer aimed toward contributing to a greener, extra sustainable metropolis by way of various transportation choices. Santa Monica-based e-scooter vendor Veo has acquired an working allow to deploy 300 of its scooters this fall as a part of town’s shared commuting program. It can observe Miami-based Flying, which acquired permission in August to distribute 800 e-scooters and 200 e-bikes throughout town. Chook bikes and scooters have already been dispersed. Including Veo bikes to the combination will carry the variety of e-bikes and scooters to 1,300. Veo bikes can be run in phases over the following few weeks, in response to Michelle Templeton, town’s appearing director of communications. Templeton mentioned the platformless scooters can be positioned throughout town as the corporate anticipates the best demand. Templeton mentioned the corporate plans to choose up and redistribute it periodically in response to residents’ transit necessities. “The town is making a variety of effort to create a extra sustainable Santa Clara,” Templeton mentioned. “Growing entry to wash mobility and various modes of transportation gives a sustainable manner for neighborhood members and guests to commute, reduces greenhouse fuel emissions that trigger local weather change and helps the discount of site visitors congestion.” A consultant from the corporate mentioned the brand new scooters can be a mixture of Veo’s Cosmo e-scooters and Astro’s everlasting e-scooters. Autos price $3 to unlock within the first 5 minutes, and passengers can be charged 39 cents for each minute thereafter. To complete the journey, riders should park the scooter at an accepted location and take a photograph of the “finish of the journey” within the Veo app. To rejoice the launch of this system, Veo is providing riders a $5 credit score that may be redeemed on the app by way of the tip of November, the corporate mentioned. Veo additionally has a reduced price plan for Santa Clara residents receiving federal, state, or native help, in addition to eligible FAFSA college students. This system waives the scooter opening charge and permits passengers one free journey of half-hour per day. Extra rides after that price 20 cents per minute. Beneath the Shared Mobility Program, accepted final winter, non-public operators can distribute e-bikes and e-scooters throughout town to supply the general public with one other methodology for “sustainable entry to transportation, buying and leisure areas,” town mentioned in a press launch. Customers of bicycles and scooters should observe fundamental working guidelines: riders should be no less than 18 years outdated and maintain a sound driver’s license, should journey in bike lanes and observe site visitors legal guidelines, and park autos appropriately. The town mentioned it’s not allowed to journey beneath the affect of medicine or alcohol. The town mentioned that those that encounter improperly stopped or broken units ought to contact the operator, who can be answerable for recovering the units. Passengers can entry Veo by calling 1-855-836-2256 or electronic mail hey@veoride.com, they usually can attain Chook by calling 1-866-205-2442 or electronic mail hey@hen .co. Santa Clara residents and stakeholders can depart suggestions on town’s bike and scooter sharing packages on-line by way of the MySantaClara app. Originally published at San Jose News HQ

[loudlytransparenttrash]

This Week Within Our Colleges: Part 20

Evergreen State College held another celebration of racial segregation. Last year the school created a shitstorm after they asked white students and staff to stay away from campus for the day so the non-whites can “heal.” This time around it was a three-day “Day of Absence” which asked students to RSVP at a URL named ‘No Nazis Allowed’ where no-whites-allowed meet-ups were held off campus. But don’t worry, they didn’t entirely exclude whites, as they state in their advertisement: “In addition to POC centered events there will be anti-racist workshops for white folks.” 

University of Chicago socialist and black lives matter student groups demanded their school pays not only its black students reparations but local black residents too. They claim the original University of Chicago, a completely different entity from today’s, had its original land donated by Stephen Douglas who purchased the property using profits from his wife’s family’s plantation in 1856, so all black people in the area today are owed “damages.” 

Howard University student protesters occupied an administrative building for over a week with a list of demands which the school has ultimately caved to. The demands include fighting rape culture on campus, disarming campus police out of “respect for Black life,” implementing a system that can track and discipline faculty who use classist, ableist, colorist, queerphobic language, hiring more counselors to “cater to the traumas of systemic oppression,” and the resignation of Howard’s president along with the school’s Board of Trustees. 

A group of black students at Oklahoma State University created a list of demands which include punishing students or faculty who use “racially insensitive” rhetoric, creating a minority history and diversity lounge, hiring more faulty of color and for the school to rename its buildings after “prominent social activists of color.” They’re called the ‘Four Percent’ and from the look of their meetings posted on Twitter, it appears their name reflects their four-person membership.

St. Catherine University canceled a one-day conference designed to equip and empower women for leadership roles because too many of the female speakers scheduled to appear were white. “The lineup did not reflect the diverse St. Kate’s community of today nor the world of tomorrow we are committed to creating.” Last year at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, a conference on writing for children and young adults was also canceled, calling it a “mistake” that too many white speakers were going to be there.

Duke University hosted a workshop titled ��Confronting White Fragility” that explores the topics of “whiteness and racism” with the goal of addressing the supposed problems that white people have with discussing racism. It serves as an introduction to the work of Robin DiAngelo, the inventor of ‘White Fragility.’ According to DiAngelo, white fragility is the defensive moves that white people make when spoken to about their privilege and many forms of racism, all which ultimately protects white supremacy and racial inequalities. 

Stanford University intended to offer a workshop called “Confronting Whiteness” which aimed to provide students an opportunity to understand problems associated with white privilege and learn ways they could lessen the pain white privilege creates, according to the online description. “Learn tools to mitigate the harms of white privilege in daily life. We will work through real-life examples together.” 

Stanford Law School student activists created a campaign to expose the “racism, bigotry and the forces of white supremacy” pervading the school. The group claim racism runs rampant and minority students suffer “death by a thousand proverbial paper-cuts,” pointing to microaggressions they say they are constantly bombarded with. They also complain how “it’s stunning that you can graduate with a Stanford Law degree and completely avoid discussions of race and structural inequalities in your three years here.”

University of Akron thankfully squashed a professor’s plans to boost the grades of his female students in an attempt to “correct gender imbalances” as part of a “national movement.” The professor admitted that his female students were “not doing well” and they would have to repeat the course if he did not boost their scores. It appears he got the idea from the plan of action by Microsoft which encourages teachers to reward female students for effort rather than for knowing the right answers. 

Schulich School of Law first-year students receive a two-sided card in their mandatory Aboriginal & Indigenous class suggesting 50 ways they can acknowledge and act on their complicity in the mistreatment of Indigenous people. Ways for students to pay their reparations include adding land acknowledgment in their email signatures, buying dreamcatchers, learning “why sexy Pocahontas is just wrong,” and when discussing LGBTQ issues, always including two-spirited peoples (LGBTQ2S*)

Humboldt State University offers a lengthy online resource guide to address a wide variety of issues dealing with whiteness, including white privilege, white fragility, white spaces and seeing white. It offers more than a dozen different articles on white privilege, defined as having “unearned entitlements” such as feeling safe in public. The “Seeing White” section showcases a weekly podcast on “the historical origins of whiteness and its racism in the U.S.” The guide also suggests reading “The scientific way to train white people to stop being racist.”

An educational session called “The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys” has been embraced by universities such as North Carolina-Charlotte, University of Iowa, Grand Valley State and Metropolitan Community College. Better connecting with black youth and their education seems like quite a reasonable conversation, until you learn the sessions are based off a book with the same title, where the author writes, “Given that whites come to the teaching profession with ingrained and implicit bias simply because they live in a white supremacist country, their whiteness impacts their classrooms and especially those black males who exist in their space for the school year.” 

George Washington University hosted a training session for students and faculty that teaches that white Christians “receive unmerited perks" and are the beneficiaries of a combined “Christian Privilege and White Privilege.” The event also aims to educate those of the “role of denial when it comes to white privilege.” By the end of the training, the organizers want participants to be able to name at least three examples of Christian privilege and at least three ways to be a good ally for those of a different religion. 

Yale University is offering a course which aims to help students understand and counteract “whiteness,” exploring such topics as white spaces, white masculinity and white speech. Students in the course are asked to read books such as Angry White Men, White Woman, Listen! and My White Feminism. The professor is active in the theater community and has produced the play “The White Card” which centers around a conversation at a dinner party focusing on the question: “Can American society progress if whiteness stays invisible?”

University of Wisconsin-Madison have created a class that teaches students the relationship between social justice and hip-hop. It will be taught by the professor who is best known for his “The Problem of Whiteness” course, and will involve reading race theory and listening to hip-hop music. It will also delve into colonialism, blackness, cultural appropriation, white rappers, black power, and black feminism. The funniest part about it all? The teacher is white and enjoys performing hip-hop on his weekends under the moniker ‘ProfessorD.us’ 

Columbia University is not to be outdone, creating a class about pop and social justice to teach students how to write music addressing “LGBTQIA rights,” mass incarceration and “gender and racial equality.” According to the program coordinator, the workshop will teach students how to “harness music to advance social justice narratives” as “it’s a university’s role to enact social change.” 

California Institute of Integral Studies held a “Making Whiteness Conscious” workshop to discuss how “racial privilege is often unconscious for white people,” especially “in this time when the rise of white supremacy is hypervisible.” Participants took part in “theatre of the oppressed” exercises and reflected on the often invisible negative impacts of whiteness. By end of the workshop, attendees were expected to have a better understanding of “white racial identity” and how to “cultivate racial justice orientation.” 

At Santa Clara University, a “Know Your Whiteness” display was created on a bulletin board which claims white people have to acknowledge their privilege "for the greater good.” “Understanding our privilege is the first step to addressing the problem which will improve everyone’s quality of life.” In the same area it displays a list of boxes to check your privilege, but the only options are if you are white, male, Christian, able-bodied, heterosexual and cisgender. The board shows an image of a white male that has a green check mark and a black man, a Muslim woman and person in a wheelchair who all bear red crosses. It recommends white people be “an ally at movements and events BUT don’t speak over others.” 

Penn State has become the latest university to abolish the king and queen homecoming titles, replacing it with the unsexed “Guide State Forward Award” in an attempt to advance “diversity and gender inclusivity” and “foster a welcoming and equitable environment.” They have also abandoned the male-to-female ratio of Homecoming, allowing one sex to be given both of the new gender neutral awards. 

Mount Holyoke, a women’s liberal arts college, has updated its Advanced Topics in Italian course that studies fascism with a particular focus on the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini to include President Donald Trump. Taught in Italian, the course description tells students that it plans to discuss the Trump administration as it follow the development of fascisms.

A New York University music technology professor claims it’s part of white supremacy when teachers trained in classical music teach classical music. Professors who teach their students about Beethoven and Mozart is a product of “a racist patriarchy” and a “preservation of whiteness.” He says the problem with teaching classical music is not a case of boring or alienating students of color, but it’s an “attack on their sense of belonging to the school community" and even more criminal, “it fails to advance social justice.”

Ohio State University’s Young Democratic Socialists hosted a “deportation defense training workshop” that hoped to teach students the “best ways to prevent deportations, protect the undocumented and resist ICE.” According to the event’s online description, “this is an opportunity for us to get involved in the immigrant’s struggle on campus.” Wait, immigrant or illegal immigrant? 

A Columbia University lecturer recently explained how veganism can help “resist the violence associated with the subjugation and oppression of nonwhite groups.” “What we do to other animals informs how we treat one another on this planet, and it is someone who doesn’t have institutional power, and they’re usually brown” he told the attendees. A proud “social justice advocate,” he teaches a graduate course called “POP! Power, Oppression, and Privilege” where he argues the parallels between eating meat and racism and sexism. 

[sfbayautomaticgates]

Signs It's Time to Replace The Gate Motor

Automatic gates are very popular for enhancing the security of residential, as well as commercial buildings. Apart from providing extra security and privacy from outsiders, they also enhance the aesthetic appeal of a building. As these technologically advanced gates are equipped with sensors and other features for enhanced convenience, they require regular maintenance for smooth functioning. It's important to get the motor replaced if one faces any of the following problems.

The Signs Gate is on manual more often than not Operating an automatic gate with hands to enter one's house can give stress to anyone. When it is on manual due to power cuts, malfunctions or any other problems, it can be a real issue. Whatever might be the obstruction, a service provider of gate motor repair in Miami can replace its motor for an unobstructed operation.

It has slow opening It can take ages to enter a building with a slow gate. In fact, it can become the reason for robbery as a robber or a hijacker can enter the building without any hassle. Waiting for it to open and then close can be really annoying for anyone. One must have it fixed with help of maintenance professional to avoid any unfortunate situation.

Spares aren't available Automatic gate motors may require spare parts in case of malfunction. Generally, one may easily find the spare parts of a motor; however, it may not always be the case. Although some local gateway repair technicians can try to use secondhand parts of other motors, one shouldn't settle for it to avoid disappointments in the future. In case the spares of the motor aren't available in the market, one should simply replace the motor for its smooth functioning in the long run.

Battery backup isn't available Typically, the new electric gate motors come with standard battery backup system that allows uninterrupted operation during power cuts and load shedding. However, robbers can take advantage of the situation if the electric gate's motor doesn't have the inbuilt battery backup. Therefore, it's important to consult an electric gate operator in Miami to replace the existing motor with one that has a battery backup.

The motor lacks crucial safety features It's important for an electric gate to have all the latest safety and security features to avoid devastating consequences. Code hopping technology is one of the latest features in automatic gateways, which prevents anyone from copying the remote code in order to avoid theft and other such unfortunate situations. One should maximize his/her home security by installing a motor that has the latest features for superior safety.

If someone faces any of the above-cited problems with an automatic gate, it's time to get in touch with a maintenance provider for gate motor repair in Miami to fix the problem at the earliest. The smooth functioning of an electric gateway not only helps with the hassle-free operation but also in avoiding a threat to life.

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[santaclaralocalnews]

Connor Kim is a smiling and healthy 8-month-old baby. Before he was even born, Connor’s mother Stephanie Kim made the decision to protect him from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Last year, when she was 36 weeks pregnant, Stephanie Kim received the newly approved prenatal vaccination against RSV called Abrysvo. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[keywestlou]

FLORIDA COVID DEATH NUMBERS BEING FUDGED

Florida’s Governor DeSantis is a hands on politician. Makes me assume nothing of consequence occurs without his consent.

This past week someone told me COVID numbers were getting better in Florida. First I heard of it. Finally got to researching the claim yesterday. The numbers were better. However, only because they were fudged. Manipulated to make Florida look better. Looking better was needed. Florida had become number one in adverse coronavirus data.

The CDC reported Florida’s latest coronavirus surge is the deadliest yet. However, Florida’s death reports reflect a significant decline.

Something stunk in Denmark!

Turns out Florida changed how it reported its COVID data to the CDC, creating an “artificial decline” in recent deaths. A new method which made Florida and its Governor look good.

Instead of reporting deaths immediately, time was taken for a death to be evaluated as such and a death certificate to be processed. In other words, the system for tallying deaths was slowed down.

Such gave the appearance of a “pandemic decline.”

Monday the CDC came out with the proper death data for the previous week. Two hundred sixty two daily deaths. Florida’s report per its “new system” was 46 deaths per day.

Who needs a leader who lies about important things to make himself look better? Especially one who is seriously being considered Presidential timber for the 2024 election.

Sacramento County, California, is another place where the COVID numbers are on the rise. No tampering involved. Though bad, honest.

School reopenings part of the problem.

Latest reports indicate 20 percent of new cases involve children. Also, African Americans are dying in higher numbers. Hospitals at near capacity.

Sacramento County is averaging 500 new cases per day and 5 new deaths per day.

To the San Francisco Bay area. Ivermectin popular! The horse and cow dewormer is “flying” off the shelves in stock and feed stores. Many perceive ivermectin a “miracle drug.” Especially those who fear and refuse to be vaccinated. Yet when inflected, run to purchase the anti-parasite drug.

The American Medical Association is “begging” people to stop taking the drug. The Association keeps reminding those taking it that they are not of the animal kingdom: “You are not a horse!”

Housing is a significant Key West problem. Especially reasonable rentals.

Santa Clara condominiums are located on Northside Drive behind the Sears Shopping Center.

The City believes the condominiums are “unfit for human habitation.” A hearing has been scheduled for September 13 to review the matter. It has been called via a Petition to declare the building an unsafe dwelling not fit for human habitation.

Recent inspection of Santa Clara has discovered exposed steel, major concrete cracks in walls and stair walls, unevenly distributed loads in floors and ceilings, and an uneven stairwell.

Santa Clara consists of 111 units. Should it be condemned, it will be next to impossible to find new condos/apartments for those who will be looking. The scarcity of rentals already over the top. Next to impossible to find rentals as it is. Most of those “legally removed” will be forced to leave the area contributing further to Key West’s lack of working help.

On this day in 1953, the Secretary of the Navy issued reprimands to a Rear Admiral who had been Commander of the Key West Naval Base and a Lt. Commander who was a former legal officer at the Base.

Each was found guilty of mishandling the investigation into the Charity Carnival Stag Show which turned into a sexual orgy.

Sort of a what goes around comes around situation. The Navy was constantly on the backs of local police enforcement to close down the various area whore houses which Navy personnel frequented. The whore houses best customers. Now the Navy itself sponsors a charity event which the sailors attended. An orgy results!

The whore houses should not have been blamed. The customers should have.

Recall poet Amanda Gorman. The 22 year old young lady who recited poetry written by her at Biden’s inauguration. She had been “discovered” by the President’s wife who recommended her husband have Amanda participate. Amanda was that good!

And so she was!

Amanda now 23. It was announced yesterday she signed a 3 year contract to be the face of Estee Lauder.

Success beyond belief! God bless her. God bless also Mrs. Biden who recognized Amanda’s talent.

It is time to “pack” the Supreme Court. The U.S. will not survive the Court as presently constituted.

In one week, the Court has forced 11 million households to face eviction and effectively overturned Roe v. Wade in the middle of the night.

Roe v. Wade was not overturned per se. However the Court’s near midnight decision does now allow Texas to by pass Roe’s requirement’s allowing abortions.

John Roberts has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for many years. Though a Republican, he has been a middle roader in many of the Court’s decisions. In recent years voting with Democrats on cases of consequence.

Without question, he has been the “leader” of the Court in practice as well as title.

No more. Trump’s 3 appointments have brushed him aside.

Another reason for increasing the number of Justices.

Ida did a number on New York and New Jersey. Death toll so far 44.

China no place for gays. China officially evidenced its “anti-gay” sentiment by two actions this past week.

China banned men considered “girly” from appearing on TV. The Communist Party banned “sissy men” in order to save China’s “revolutionary culture.”

Enjoy your day!

FLORIDA COVID DEATH NUMBERS BEING FUDGED was originally published on Key West Lou

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Oct 13, 2010 Announced Wednesday, the acquisition would give Broadcom access to Beceem's pioneering 4G multimode LTE-WiMax network expertise, which supports peak download speeds up to 200 Mbps. The deal would also place Broadcom in direct competition with Qualcomm over the rapidly emerging LTE and WiMax technologies. Oct 13, 2010 Beceem's network currently supports download speeds of up to 200 Mbps. 'The combination of Beceem and Broadcom creates a leader in providing multimode wireless connectivity solutions to service. Beceem Communications: Beceem was founded in October, 2003, as a fabless semiconductor company specializing in the emerging 4G-WiMAX marketplace. They provide baseband and RF chips as well as.

DENVER, and SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Beceem Communications, a leading provider of mobile 4G-WiMAX chips, announced today that its industry leading, high-performance BCS5200 4G-WiMAX chipset is powering the “Freedom 4G” CPE used in Open Range’s new “Perfectly SimpleSM” wireless broadband service offered currently in Northern Colorado and soon in a number of rural markets in a dozen other states. With Perfectly Simple service, consumers and businesses can access high speed Internet wirelessly, at true broadband speeds. And using the Freedom 4G CPE, users also enjoy built-in WiFi as well as local and long distance digital phone service. “Beceem’s 4G semiconductor solutions provided the perfect combination of high-performance and full feature integration for our Freedom 4G modem, enabling our Perfectly Simple 4G-WiMAX service to give consumers the ability to get connected at true broadband speeds,” said Keith Paglusch, Open Range’s EVP of Network Development. “We appreciate Beceem’s support and expertise during the deployment and launch of our 4G-WiMAX wireless broadband network – the realization of the Open Range vision to provide an indispensable service in areas of our country where broadband connectivity to the home or office has been too limited and expensive,” Paglusch said.

Beceem Communications Inc.

Beceem Network & Wireless Cards Drivers

In a move to speed up its 4G development plans, chipmaker Broadcom on Wednesday acquired privately-held Beceem Communications for $316 million in cash and stock options.

Beceem is a uniquely appealing company for Broadcom as its technology supports both WiMax and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) capabilities. The company makes 4G semiconductors and offers single-chip solutions optimized for mobile devices and wireless broadband markets.

Broadcom will add Beceem's wireless platform solutions to its wireless LAN, Bluetooth, GPS, and Ethernet switching products. Beceem's network currently supports download speeds of up to 200 Mbps.

'The combination of Beceem and Broadcom creates a leader in providing multimode wireless connectivity solutions to service providers and equipment manufacturers around the world,' said Scott Bibaud, Broadcom's Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Mobile Platforms Group in a statement to the press.

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Broadcom also expects Beceem's sales and research and development teams to help accelerate Broadcom's development plans for 4G products.

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Beceem Network Services

'When combined with Broadcom's 2G and 3G cellular solutions and broader wired and wireless communications portfolio, our 4G products will enable operators to roll out next generation wireless broadband solutions while providing support for existing networks,' said Beceem CEO Surendra Babu Mandava, in the statement.

Broadcom's chips are used to send data inside cell phones and across network infrastructure. They also power the Apple iPad, a source of tremendous growth for Broadcom. Already an important player in 3G technology and wireless infrastructure, Broadcom is now looking to advance into long-term evolution (LTE) and WiMax wireless technology.

As a result of acquiring Beceem, Broadcom will now compete with Qualcomm for preeminence in 4G technologies.

Beceem Network & Wireless Cards Drivers

Beceem Network Directv

According to Broadcom, the acquisition has been approved by the executive boards of both companies and is scheduled to close in March of next year.

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